“She is a redhead and she has a pale complexion. That’s just the way she is.”

Grace and brother Murray, 11, were both reduced to tears by the ordeal at Manchester airport.

The airline only relented less than two hours before the flight took off for Abu Dhabi – after the Wains obtained a letter from their family GP.

But in a further blow to the family’s holiday, two of their suitcases didn’t make it to Male airport in the Maldives.

As a result, Paul and wife Sheena, 44, spent three days in their Indian Ocean resort with only their travelling clothes.

The luxury Atmosphere Kanifushi resort has one shop – but it only sells souvenirs.

Former Royal Navy officer Paul and Sheena, from Cardross, near Helensburgh, believe the incident with Grace was linked to the flight being overbooked.

The family arrived at the airport around 4pm on Monday to catch the 8.20pm flight to Abu Dhabi en route to the Maldives.

But when they got to the check-in desk, they got the shock of their lives.

Paul said: “Grace was a bit tired and hot and bothered. She was cuddling into her mum in the line.

“One of the Etihad check-in girls then made the decision that she wasn’t fit to fly based on the fact she was pale in colour and was leaning against her mum.”

The couple, who also have a 18-year-old son, knew the flight was overbooked but could scarcely believe what they were hearing.

Paul added: “It was as if someone had just hit us around the head with a baseball bat.

“I left the Royal Navy last year, after 29 years’ service, and I had kept back some of the money I got so we could have a fantastic holiday.

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime event and someone was telling us we weren’t going anywhere.

“We just stared at each other in amazement that we were not getting on this holiday and then the kids started crying.”

Sheena said: “I just couldn’t believe it.

“We have flown a lot as a family but we have never had this. They were trying desperately to get people off that flight.”

Fortunately, Sheena’s twin sister Jean Jowers managed to organise a letter from the family GP. It was emailed to Etihad’s duty manager just in the nick of time.

Jean was called into action again when the couple’s suitcases went missing.

But initial calls to the airports in Manchester and Abu Dhabi and the airline’s HQ in the United Arab Emirates were all in vain.

Jean said: “They kept saying when they get the bags they will send them out. It’s not the point.

“It’s not like she has lost her bags in Dubai and can go to the mall to buy stuff.”

Paul B Wain/Daily Record

The couple were finally reunited with their luggage on Thursday and the Record got an official response from Etihad yesterday - two days after we raised the matter.

Sheena said she spent three days of misery dressed for 13C weather in the 30C heat of the Maldives.

She said: “It’s the holiday of a lifetime but it has been a disaster from the start”

The family, who are not due to fly home until July 19, were left in limbo until our sister paper, the Daily Record intervened.

An Etihad spokeswoman said: “Staff were concerned about the wellbeing of a young passenger ahead of a lengthy flight.

“The team called for a medic who examined the child and requested a ‘fit to fly’ letter from a doctor, allowing the family to board. Our team on the ground continued to provide support ahead of the flight.

“Unfortunately, when the family arrived, some of their baggage was missing.

“The airline apologised and took all measures to find and deliver the baggage to the Wain family as soon as possible. Compensation in line with standard guidelines will be provided.”